A Small Home In Japan: White Hut & Tilia Japonica

Resting on a tiny plot of land in the Tokyo suburb of Saitama, sits a bright, white box of a home. Like a bento box, you won't believe how much fits into this small space.

White Hut and Tilia Japonica, the home designed by architectural team Takahashi Maki and Associates, sits on just 38 square meters of land. The home fits right next to its neighbors and also rests directly next to the street. Fitting so much home into a width of only 3.9 meters (less than 13 feet) was a challenge. Each floor serves as a room, with no interior doors, perfect for this married couple who didn't require additional privacy. It rises three stories high, with a striking vertical glass panel that allows a flood of light into the interior space.

Throughout the home a simple color scheme keeps the small space open and clear from visual clutter. Unique layout designs like the kitchen cabinetry pushed flush against the wall while underneath the floor is actually positioned away from the wall to allow light to flow down below (see image above). Notice the illusion of the continuous three story bookshelves made from tilia japonica wood. Like many typical modern Japanese designs, this home incorporates a compact yet flowing feeling of space, natural materials and a unique approach to interior design.